Society Gists

Some yet to be identified gunmen have shot and killed one of the officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps attached to the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The incident happened on Sunday night at a private residence of Oba Ogunwusi located in Ile Ife.

Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the NSCDC operative identified as Marcus just returned to the entrance of Ooni’s private residence from where he had gone to buy a recharge card when his assailants opened fire on him.

Although sources in the area said the hoodlums did not attack the residence nor rob any of the occupants, they were said to have removed the officer’s rifle and fled the scene.

Other colleagues of the deceased who were in the premises were said to have rushed out on hearing the sound of the gun but the assailants had sped off before they came out. Marcus was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The deceased was said to have gone to buy recharge cards and returned immediately to his duty post but was attacked almost immediately and his attackers only took away his gun.

Some sources said the hoodlums were probably members of an armed robbery gang returning from an operation and just attacked Marcus because he was seen standing alone.

The Head, Public Relations Unit of the NSCDC in the state, Mr. Wale Folarin, when contacted on the telephone confirmed the killing to our corespondent.

He said, “It is true that one of our officers attached to the Ooni’s palace was shot dead by some unidentified persons. He was shot n front of a private residence of of the Ooni.

“His killers went away with his gun and he died at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife.”

Folarin disclosed that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing and the command was still investigating the matter.

According to him all security operative in the state are working together to arrest the perpetrators of the crime. He stated that security operatives in the state had resolved to ensure that none of the hoodlums escaped arrest.